A Rear-Wheel Drive Audi R8 Has Cranked The Excitement Up To 11

After decades of making purely four-wheel drive sports cars, Audi has dropped the mic and walked off stage, leaving us gawping at news of a limited-edition rear-driven R8 for the first time ever
A Rear-Wheel Drive Audi R8 Has Cranked The Excitement Up To 11

For the first time in its history Audi is about to release a rear-wheel drive sports car, and we might need to sit down because it’s a rear-driven R8. Oh yes, boys and girls, it’s the R8 we’ve all been waiting for. Almost, anyway (it’s not manual).

The R8 RWS, which stands for Rear Wheel Series, is a lighter, more exciting and trickier version of the famous V10 supercar, whipping 50kg out from underneath the coupe by ditching the drive to the front axle. There’s also a Spider that’s 40kg lighter than the four-wheel drive car.

A Rear-Wheel Drive Audi R8 Has Cranked The Excitement Up To 11

We know what you’re thinking, and yes; it will drift, even if you have fingers of butter and fists of ham. About 60 per cent of the weight sits over the rear axle and, when you flick to Dynamic driving mode and Sport ESC mode, you can prod the rear end sideways and enjoy what Audi calls, in wonderfully German phrasing, “particularly entertaining driving…”

In the engine bay there’s the 5.2-litre V10 we know and adore. It fires 533bhp at the 295/35 rear tyres and is good for sprints of 3,7 seconds and 3.8 seconds to 62mph, for the coupe and Spider respectively. Top speed is 198mph for the hard-top, and 197mph for the Spider.

A Rear-Wheel Drive Audi R8 Has Cranked The Excitement Up To 11

Just 999 will be made, and we get the feeling that Audi will probably sell that allocation by the time you wake up tomorrow morning. This is, basically, a more affordable and slightly detuned Lamborghini Huracan 580-2, after all. With ex-Lamborghini boss Stephan Winkelmann at Audi’s helm, should we be surprised?

The price ladder starts at £110,000, but the options list will be as long as the Old Testament and as expensive as Trump’s wall. At least the special ‘# of 999’ interior plaque comes for free. The RWS car will be built on the standard R8 production line.

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Comments

Valanti Demetriades

The r8 and huracan are like a pair of twins where the mother doesnt want to play favorites so they get the same exact gifts for every holiday

09/11/2017 - 18:36 |
196 | 1

Best comparison ever

09/11/2017 - 18:48 |
53 | 3

The huracan is like a Mediterranean style home and the Audi is Modern contemporary

09/11/2017 - 20:15 |
14 | 0

so the audi is the sophisticated one, and the hurucan is the jacked one

09/11/2017 - 23:04 |
6 | 0

That tends to be my life, as I have a twin.

09/11/2017 - 23:59 |
7 | 0

Top comment of the year.
Source: I have a twin brother.

09/12/2017 - 12:43 |
1 | 0
Darth Imperius/Anthony🇭🇷

Screw the Audi, Merc Project One is out!

09/11/2017 - 18:39 |
14 | 4
Anonymous

A modern high performance Audi that doesn’t have their Quattro system? I can’t believe that this is actually happening… First the Project One reveal, now this. My soul can only take so much brilliance.

09/11/2017 - 18:39 |
37 | 0
Robert Homann

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

A car from Quattro GmbH without quattro

09/11/2017 - 20:00 |
16 | 0
JDM_Dawg

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

The 911 GT3 Touring Package too

09/11/2017 - 21:44 |
8 | 0
DJ N

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Yes, much excitement in the car world as of late!

09/12/2017 - 04:54 |
3 | 0
Anonymous

Reason No1 to like the Huracan more :
RWD IS CHEAPER AND UNLIMITED
999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999 more to come

09/11/2017 - 18:46 |
6 | 0
Anonymous

AUDI MAKING A REAR WHEEL DRIVE CAR! What’s next? A French car where the electrics don’t fail!

09/11/2017 - 18:47 |
36 | 0
Tomislav Celić

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Or a Mustang with 5 star EuroNCAP

09/11/2017 - 18:49 |
26 | 2
P1eased0nteatme

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

We had a C6 and we had to replace the entire wiring loom lol, great car though

09/11/2017 - 21:44 |
4 | 0
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Or a turbocharged 86/BRZ?

09/12/2017 - 02:40 |
3 | 0
Tomislav Celić

So in the year people finally make non understeering AWDs and everyone does it, and include a rwd/drift mode Audi decides to ditch the AWD. You really can’t be like your rivals, can you Audi?

09/11/2017 - 18:49 |
9 | 3
Anonymous

I R8 this a 11/10.

09/11/2017 - 18:50 |
10 | 0
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

I think it’s closer to 2/4.

09/11/2017 - 18:57 |
12 | 0
Tomislav Celić

Wait. V10, RWD, 3.70s 0-60, limited to sub 1000 units, around 200mph top speed, auto gearbox. THIS IS A GERMAN LFA

09/11/2017 - 18:57 |
13 | 2

LFA was FR layout tho… Bit different you know

09/11/2017 - 20:34 |
4 | 0

I know what it is… It’s an Audi- made Carrera GT. But with an automatic

09/12/2017 - 00:20 |
6 | 0
SAVAGE DOGG (Ping-Pong Gang) (Corvette Squad)

No homie Manual?

09/11/2017 - 19:02 |
7 | 0
Soni Redx (MD Squad Leader) (Subie Squad Leader)

“A RWD 2017 Audi R8, pfft i’ve done that in Forza”

09/11/2017 - 19:29 |
1 | 0

Exactly. Should be doable in real life as well

09/11/2017 - 20:34 |
1 | 0